Weird words

Latin & other lupus words

Historically, lupus clans in Europe and Britain used Latin to communicate with each other for much the same reason it was adopted by the Church—the need for a unifying tongue. Their version of the language evolved, as languages will, into a thoroughly bastardized tongue likely to make classical scholars (such as my daughter) wince. In addition, there are a few words in the lupus tongue that have no known derivation. Lupi claim these words come from an ancient language that predates Latin, but since Latin predates 1000 BC, experts consider this unlikely.

The use of Latin to communicate between the clans is dying out now, since so many lupi speak English as a first or second language, though it’s still considered essential for a Rho and his sons, who must negotiate with other clans. Several of the words and phrases remain useful, though, since they have no obvious English equivalent. Below are a few of the words and phrases any lupus would know.

Rhej – The title of a clan’s bard/historian/priestess; unknown derivation.

du – honor, face, history, reputation; has magical component.

Lu Nuncio – A Rho’s acknowledged heir. Nuncio is from nuncupo – to name or pronounce solemnly. Derivation of lu unknown, but may be short form of lupus.

surdo – An unflattering name for humans (m). From surdus (deaf, unwilling to hear, insensible.)

v’eius ven – Probably derived from a phrase meaning “go in her [the Lady’s] grace”, though some sources suggest “ven” may be from venor (hunt) rather than venia (grace), or even from vena (blood vessel or penis.) This form is largely ceremonial.

t’eius ven – The intimate or informal form of v’eius ven.

thranga – A form of war in which the clans unite under a single battle leader against a common enemy; traditionally it requires the Lady’s summons, but the nature of that summons may be disputed. Unknown derivation.

Demon words

Hirug – Dis creatures that hunt in large herds; almost mindless. Look like a roach without the carapace, only the size of a cat and with leathery gray skin. Not true insects, as they have an internal skeleton. Six thin legs ending in small, clawed feet. The head looks insectile—small, flattened, with faceted eyes and serrated mandibles.

Akhanetton – a region in Dis.

dashtu – a state in which a demon is invisible to humans because it’sdout-of-phase with the Earth realm. Also called dshat.

üther – a demon sense that reads the density of the life in a person or animal. The üther sense is directional and limited by distance for all demons not directly tied to a territory. (In other words, most demons can read only those life forms in their immediate vicinity. Demon lords read all lives on their estates; demon princes read all life forms within their territories.)

ymu – the energetic part of a life form that’s read by the uther sense.